Modifying the Autochk.exe Time-out Value

When Windows NT Server is not shut down normally, Autochk.exe is run when restarting. In certain situations, it may be helpful to bypass running this utility. By modifying the following registry key, the amount of time Windows NT waits before running Autochk.exe can be changed, allowing the user time to bypass running it by pressing any key.

To enable this feature, use Registry Editor (Regedt32.exe) to add the AutoChkTimeOut key:

WARNING: Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that problems resulting from the incorrect use of Registry Editor can be solved. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

For information about how to edit the registry, view the "Changing Keys And Values" Help topic in Registry Editor (Regedit.exe) or the "Add and Delete Information in the Registry" and "Edit Registry Data" Help topics in Regedt32.exe. Note that you should back up the registry before you edit it. If you are running Windows NT, you should also update your Emergency Repair Disk (ERD).

1. Start Registry Editor (Regedit32.exe) and locate the following subkey:
   \HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager
2. Add the following information:
   Value Name: AutoChkTimeOut Data Type: DWORD Value: The value in units of seconds (for example, a value of 60 equals 1 minut

The autochk.exe count down time is controlled by the following registry entry:
\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager \AutoChkTimeOut

If the entry is not found, the default count down of 10 seconds will be used. If it is set to 0 second, there will not be any count down. If it is set to more than 3 days (259,200 seconds), the default value will be used.